This week I've been looking at the power of turnarounds in my Slide Success group, and I'd like to share some of it with you here.
This little musical tool packs a punch, helping to build and release tension on the last two bars before seamlessly taking you back to the start of a blues progression.
We’re focusing on open D tuning, so let’s get started and see how turnarounds make blues progressions come alive!
The Magic of Blues Progression
At the heart of blues music lies the blues progression, a cycle that’s simple yet profoundly expressive. It's most commonly arranged in 12 bars or 8 bars and it’s this structure that gives blues its distinctive feel.
Understanding this cycle is key for any blues musician, and turnarounds provide a pivotal moment in this progression.
So what is a turnaround?
It's just a little chordal passage or some kind of movement that creates tension that releases you back to the beginning of a blues progression.
Turnarounds are like the secret sauce in a blues progression. They create a gateway from the end of one cycle back to the beginning, adding a dynamic element that builds suspense and resolves it beautifully.
Exploring Open D Turnarounds
We’re working with open D tuning, offering you a selection of descending turnarounds to enrich your blues progression. Each type adds its own flavour and can transform the feel of your music - and my next blog will tackle ascending turnarounds so look out for that!
Descending Turnarounds: Adding Depth to Blues
One popular style features chromatic descents, sliding you towards the five chord in innovative ways. This technique, inspired by icons like Elmore James, adds depth and drama to the ending of your cycle, ensuring it returns to the beginning with heightened anticipation.
Here is a video example: https://share.descript.com/view/gVsqpxsGvdk
There are a lot of variations you can then do with this approach, try doubling the 5th string note on the third string for example.
Keep It Simple
While more complex chromatic descents are exciting, there's power in simplicity too. Sometimes, straightforward transitions between the standard 1,4,5 chords can be enough to mark the end of the progression.
Here is a video with a a nice example that is similar to the one used in the Ry Cooder classic Feeling Bad Blues: https://share.descript.com/view/mqL4eP35fKx
Give it a go and see what happens - you might be surprised by how effective this little tool can be. Take a look at my FREE Get Going with Slide Guide here, and check out my Slide Success course to get started with slide.
Happy sliding!